Oscars 2019: Spike Lee Walks Out When Green Book Wins Best Picture

When Green Book won the Oscar for Best Picture at the 2019 Academy Awards, Spike Lee stood up and attempted to leave the Dolby Theater, the Associated Press reports. Lee reportedly appeared “visibly angry” over Green Book’s win, waved his hands, and walked to the exit with his Oscar in hand. He was reportedly stopped by staffers and walked back to his seat. Lee’s film BlacKkKlansman was also nominated for Best Picture.

In the press room, Lee said, “I’m snakebit. I mean every time somebody's driving somebody, I lose. But they changed the seating arrangement!” Lee’s film Do the Right Thing did not win any awards in 1990—the year Driving Miss Daisy won multiple awards including Best Picture. When asked specifically about his reaction to Green Book winning, he reportedly said, “Next question!” (Speaking to the BBC, he says his response was: “Let me sip some Champagne.”) He closed by saying, “Whether we won Best Picture or not, this film will stand the test of time being on the right side of history.”

He told the BBC: “I guess it’s progress, because Do the Right Thing didn’t even get nominated.” Asked what he thinks of Green Book, he said, after shaking his head, “I mean, it seems very similar to Driving Miss Daisy. They just changed the driving positions.” When pressed on whether something about Green Book “offends” him, Lee said he’d give the British reporters a British answer: “It wasn’t my cup of tea.” Pitchfork has reached out to Lee’s representatives for comment.

When Lee was asked about Green Book in a previous interview, he said, “I had a talk with my wife, and we’re not speaking about no other films. Particularly that one.” When asked if he’d stay quiet if Green Book won the Oscar for Best Picture, he laughed and replied, “Well I didn’t say that! Let’s not take it too far!”